Press any button; vote goes to BJP! Saffronisation of EVMs sparks protest

News Network
November 23, 2017

Meerut, Nov 23: Even as voting is underway in the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Municipal elections, several complaints have surfaced in Meerut about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)  voting only for the BJP. 

Political commentators have termed the continued EVM tampering as saffronisation machines. In several recent polls across India EVM tampering in favour of BJP had come to light. 

This time, the tampering triggered flash protests. Voters at a polling booth in Meerut erupted in loud protests after one of them discovered that an EVM was recording votes only for BJP, irrespective of the button that was being pressed. 

The officials immediately replaced the tampered EVM to cover up the issue claiming it was just a "malfunction". However, non-BJP political parties believe that machines have been deliberately tampered with.

A video of a voter trying unsuccessfully to cast his vote for the candidate of his choice turned up online soon, leaving officials scrambling to solve the problem. In the video, the voter, Tasleem Ahmad, can be seen trying to vote for BSP.

"I voted for the BSP candidate. I am still holding the pressed button. The machine has recorded my vote as having gone to BJP. I have been waiting here for an hour, but no solution has been provided so far," Ahmad can be heard saying in the video.

An EVM, after recording a vote, is immediately locked, so that the voter can't choose a different option. The machine is unlocked only for the next voter. On hearing of the matter, BSP supporters and members of other parties descended on the polling booth and created a commotion, after which senior officials arrived.

Yogesh Verma, formed BSP MLA, said, "The area in which this problem occurred is dominated by the minority community, and we have a strong presence here. Although officials immediately replaced the machine, it is really disturbing to note that all votes were going to BJP."

It could be recalled here that after the UP assembly polls in March this year, wherein BJP got an unprecedented mandate of 325 seats out of 403, opposition parties levelled serious charges of EVM tampering, so much so that Election Commission had to eventually defend the machines.

Problems with EVMs were reported from Agra as well. At booth no. 69 in Gautam Nagar, voters alleged whichever button was being pressed, the vote was going to BJP. Voters at several polling booths found the machines for recording votes for the mayor's post were not working, after which the machines had to be repaired. Voting was delayed by more than 30 minutes.

Comments

FairMan
 - 
Saturday, 25 Nov 2017

Starting from - Modi coming to power is only through EVM 

There is no two voice only one, that is EVM.   Public come to protest against modi and his party and dismiss all elections after modi coming illegally to power.  Even bogi also 100% coming only by EVM.  The so coalled opposition parties all are interested only in money.

 

PUBLIC GET UP,  & PROTEST AGAINST ANTI NATIONALS  AND THROUGH OUT THESE PEOPLE TO ARABIAN SEA.

Rashid
 - 
Friday, 24 Nov 2017

Until now wherever malfunction of EVM reported , it shows as voted for BJP , do we mean 'BJP syndrome' infected to all these machines....

Wellwisher
 - 
Thursday, 23 Nov 2017

For a fare and clear mandate we at Karnataka demand Ballot system.  Else our state will no where.

 

The desh drohi groups well aware Kannadigas never suppor any criminal groups. So to get power

 

They will do the same trick with EVM machines. 

Still we have time to oppose and boycot EVM.

 

 

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News Network
November 17,2024

hizbullah.jpg

An Israeli airstrike on the office of Syria’s Baath party in Lebanon’s capital Beirut has killed the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah's Media Relations Officer, Mohammad Afif, reports say.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli raid struck the Ba'ath party’s building in central Beirut district of Ras Al-Naba'a on Sunday, adding that the strike was an attempt to assassinate the leader of the resistance media front.

According to Baath Secretary-General Ali Hijazi, Afif was having a meeting in the Baath Party headquarters when Israel carried out the attack.

"Afif did not fight with weapons and did not lead a military unit in Hezbollah. Rather, he led a media unit," he said.

Reuters, Sky News, Al Jazeera and a number of Henrew-language media reported that Afif was killed in the Israeli strike.

However, Hezbollah has not yet confirmed Afif’s death or whether he was present at the site or not.

Earlier, the Lebanese Health Ministry said at least one person was killed and three others injured after an Israeli strike targeted a central district in Beirut.

Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network reported that five people were killed in the attack.

The latest development came after Afif said Hezbollah was behind the Caesarea operation and targeting Netanyahu’s home during a speech at the Ghobeiry area in the southern suburbs of Beirut on October 22.

This was the second assassination attempt on Afif in the last two months, after he survived an attack on the Hezbollah media relations office several weeks ago.

Israel launched a ground assault and massive air campaign against Lebanon in late September after a year of exchanging fire across the Lebanese border in parallel with the Gaza war.

At least 3,287 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past year, with the vast majority in the past seven weeks. Another 14,222 have been wounded, mostly women and children.

In response to the ongoing aggression, the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has been staging hundreds of retaliatory strikes against the occupied Palestinian territories and the Israeli forces trying to advance on southern Lebanese areas.

The movement has vowed to sustain its strikes until the regime ends the escalation.

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News Network
November 11,2024

Udupi, Nov 11: A traveller reportedly lost ₹4.1 lakh after attempting to book a cab online in Udupi. 

At around 1:30 PM on November 7, the man from West Bengal searched for car rentals on Google and selected a website named "Shakti Car Rentals." Shortly after, he was contacted by someone claiming to be "Rohit Sharma," who directed him to pay a registration fee of ₹150 on the site.

After unsuccessful payment attempts via both his Canara Bank debit card and SBI credit card (without receiving an OTP), "Rohit Sharma" instructed him to pay the driver directly. But at 1:47 PM, he received messages showing deductions of ₹3.3 lakh from his SBI credit card and ₹80,056 from his Canara Bank debit card, totaling ₹4.1 lakh.

The complainant alleges fraud through a deceptive link disguised as a booking token fee. A case has been registered at Udupi Town Police Station.

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News Network
November 13,2024

evehicle.jpg

In the heart of Mangaluru, where rising air pollution is spurring public health worries, voices are calling for a greener, cleaner shift in the city’s public transport. Leading this call is APD Foundation, a Mangaluru-based environmental NGO, which has urged Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre to mandate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in public transport.

Abdullah A Rehman, CEO of APD Foundation, emphasized in a formal letter to the minister that Mangaluru’s public transportation system—efficient and organized with both government and private players—could transition smoothly to EVs in stages. He suggested that government-backed financial incentives, partnerships with EV manufacturers, and collaborations with environmental groups could streamline the switch.

Rehman stressed the potential of EVs to cut down emissions, enhance air quality, and reduce noise levels, noting the quieter operation of electric buses. He confirmed that a copy of his letter was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner as well.

However, Dilraj Alva from the Dakshina Kannada City Bus Association noted potential challenges, explaining that the shift might take up to two years due to infrastructure and budget hurdles. Most EV buses, he explained, are procured through aggregators, not directly by individual operators. The addition of charging stations and other essential infrastructure further complicates the transition.

Alva also raised the economic concern: while diesel buses are priced between ₹30-40 lakh, electric buses can cost up to ₹1 crore. Reflecting on recent meetings with companies, including one in Manipal, he questioned the assumption that EVs are an absolute solution to pollution. “EVs aren’t entirely eco-friendly, especially when considering battery disposal,” he cautioned.

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